Abctig ob gaiteg



1,626,587 G. c. THOMAS ARCTIC OR GAITER April 26, 1927.

Filed May 10, 1924 Z Sheets-Sheet l Am 26,1927. W 5

(5. C. THOMAS ARCTIC OR GAITER Filed May 10, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 526, 1927.

U IT ST GEORGE G. THOMAS, OF MALDEN,

i SACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CONVERSE RUBBER SHOE 00., A CORPORATION OF HASSAOHUSETTS.

one on earrnn.

Application filed may 10,

This invention pertains'to artics or gaiters referably composed of waterproofed or rub rized cloth for wear in snowy or rainy weather.

My arctic or'gaiter is adapted to be worn over the regular foot covering and is so constructed as to give the maximum protection to the wearer during 'wet and snowy weather. I also obviate the cumbersome 1o closures as now used on such articles and have devised a novel closure which is superior in operation, and which. gives a much neater appearance, as the closure means are co%pletely hidden from view.

e gaiter com rises a central bellowslike tongue, side aps which fold over the tongue, and a culf around the top of the gaiter. The cufi' in one form of the invention, is turned. down from the top of the gaiter, and is not intended to be turned up; in another form, the cuflz, while normally turned down, may also be turned up and fastened in the upturned position.

Ad'ustable fastening means are provided at with th forms whereby a snug fit is had for ankles of various sizes.

In the attached drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my galter in an open position ready for insertion of 80 the wearers foot.

Fig.2 is a perspective view showing my gait/er in close position, as worn.

Fig. 3 is a side view, with a portion of the cufi' turned back to illustrate the closure means.

Fig. 4 is a modified form of my gaiter, being a perspective view thereof.

. Flg. 5 isapers fication, showing t e closure flaps in opened position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective vew of the modified form havin the cufi portion in a downturned ositlon.

Fig. is a perspective of the cuff in upturned, closed position.

More specifically in the drawings, illustrating an embodiment of my invention, 1 denotes the foot portion of my gaiter, which may be compose of rubber or other waterproof material; 2 and 3, the up er foot and leg portions respectively, pre erably composed of rubberized cloth or the like.

The leg portion 3 includes side flaps F, which are adapted to overlap each other,

and to; overlap a tongue a, preferably a ective view of the modis 1924. Serial No. 712,346.

bellows tongue. The lower portion 4 of the tongue covers the instep of the foot of the wearer and merges into the foot portion 2, being preferably integral therewith. The tongue 4 has its sides cut away as indicated at 5-5, the sides bein attached to the side flaps F along the 'nes, 1515. By so attaching the side portions 55 of the ton ue 4 along the lines 15-15 it will be readi y seen that it is impossible for snow or rain to creep into the gaiter through the closure. The tongue 4 is made wide enough to allow the side flaps F to spread apart so that the gaitermay be readily shpped on or oil. Flg. 1 shows the .gaiter in open position with the side flaps thrown back. When the flaps are closed, the sides of the tongue fold along the line 17, and so do not wrinkle or create a bulge on the outside of the gaiter.

The flaps F are of substantially the same shape; the cuff 6 is formed as an u ward extension of the side flaps and is su tantially coextensive therewith. The side flaps preferably overlap slightly, such overlappmg being on a median line; the flaps are shaped so that they overlap only below their upper edges, and the adjacent vertical 0 the cuffs are symmetricall positionew, a

little to either side of the me ian line giving a pleasing symmetrical effect, as s own in Fig. 2.

The and 6 is preferabl integral with the leg ortion 3, is attach to the upper, edge of t e le portion, and'is adapted to normally fol over, and lie against the leg portion when in downturned position.

One of the flaps F is extended, as at 7, to form a fastening strap 7. Slidably mounted on the strap 7, for adjustable movement, is the fastener 8, which is adapted to engage with the stud 9 when the side flaps F are brought together. After the flaps F are-folded over the tongue 4, the snap fastener 8 is snapped onto the stud 9, thus retaining the gaiter in closed position, which insures a snug Waterproof closure. for the gaiter. The closure is adjustable, so that it may be used for dilfere'nt sized ankles. The fastening elements 8 and 9- merely illustrate one convenient form of adjustable fastening; evidently other forms could be used.

It will be observed in Figs. 2 and 3 illustrating the preferred construction that .in

' ed to beretained in either upturned or and neat fit about t downturned position. The object of this arr ingement, is to provide protection for the wearer in deep snow, that 1s, where the height ot the snow is'above the height of the cuff 6 in downturned position. When deep snow is encountered, the cuff 6 may be turned up and fastened snugly around the wearers leg, afiording additional prot'ection. A

In the modified form, the construction is generally similar to the form shown in Fig. 1. The modification relates particularly to the fastening means of the end.

A fastening strap 20 is anchored/to .the

underside of the and 6 by suitable means, such as the ball and socket fastening elements2l, one part of the fastening being on the strap and the other on the underside of the cult. The strap may be swung about 21 as a pivot. other end of thestrap 20 is a fastening element 22 which may be provided with a socket 22 for engaging with the ball fastener 23 on the underside of the other end of the cuff 6.

The side flaps F are adjustably fastened together as in Figs. 1-3.

With the modified form, three different ositions are possible: First, the cult may e turned down, and the fastening strap 20 held in the inoperative position, as in Fig. 4. This is practically the same as in Fig. 2. Second, withthe cuff still turned down, the strap 20 may be swung about its anchorage 21 as a pivot, as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 5, and secured to the fastener 23, as illustrated in Fig. 6; this pulls the edges of the cuffs. closer together, and gives a snug e ankle by imposing acircumferential restricting force around the upper part of the ankle, underneath the 01111". There are thus provided two distinct adjustments for fit, one by the adjustable securing means for the side flaps, and the other by the adjustable securing means, for the strap 20 underneath thecuif, the latter especially serving to give a snug and tight fit around the upper edge of the arctic. And third, the cut? may be turned up as in Fig. 7*and the strap 20 swun about its anchorage and secured to the astener 23; this last position is particularly for deep snow.

Slidably mounted on the While I have illustrated my invention in some detail, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to such details, but may be carried out in other ways, as expressed within the scope of the "following claims. I

I claim as my invention 1. In a gaiter, the combination with a foot portion, of an instep covering portion extended upwardly to form abellows tongue, side flaps to which the bellows tongue is attached, foldable over the bellows tongue, a cuff turned downwardly from the, upper edges of the side flaps, securing means, carried by one of the flaps and detachably secured to the other flap, for holding the side flaps folded over each other and over the bellows tongue, and a second securing means positioned underneath the oufl for imposing a circumferential restricting force around the upper part-of the gaiter, underneath the cult.

2. In a gaiter, the combination with a foot portion, of side flaps toldable into overlapping relation, an inste covering portion, a downwardly turned on at the upper edge of the side flaps, the instep covering portion being extended upwardly to form a bellows tongue the edges of which are attached to the side flaps, a securing device carried by one of the flaps and detachably secured to the other flap, said securing device being positioned underneath said downturned can, for holding the side flaps folded over the I bellows tongue,in overlapfing relation with each other, and a secon securing means, positioned underneath the end, for imposing a circumferential restricting force around thefiupper part of the gaiter, underneath the on 3. In a gaiter, the combination with a foot portion, of an instep'oovering portion extended upwardly to form abellows tongue, side flaps to which the bellows tongue is attached, foldable over the bellows tongue, a'

cufi turned downwardly from the upper edges of the side flaps, securin means, carried by one of the flaps an detachably secured to the other flap, for holding the side flaps folded over each other and over the bellows tongue, and means, carried by one end of the end and detachably en aeable with the other end of the end, for o d- .ing the cuff turned upwardly around the leg of the wearer.

4. In a gaiter, the combination with a foot. portion, of side flaps toldable into overlapping relation, an instep covering portion, a downwardly turned end at the upper edge of the side flaps, the instep covering portion being edtended upwardly to form a bellows tongue the edges of which are attached to the side flaps, a securing device carried by one of the flaps and detachably secured to the other p, said securing deiao vice being positioned underneath said downturnecl cuff, for holding the side flaps folded over the bellows tongue, in overlapping relation with each other, and means, engageable with the ends of the cuff and normally concealed thereby when the cuff is in downturned position, for holding the cuff in upturned position around the leg of the wearer.

5. In a gaiter, the combination with a foot portion, of an instep covering portion extended upwardly to form a bellows tongue,

sirloflaps to which the bellows tongue is attached, a culi formed as an upward extension of the side flaps and foldable downwardly over the flaps, the two flaps being of substantially the same shape and only overlapping at a point well below the upper edges thereof, and means for cletachably securing the two flaps together.

In testimony whereof I ture.

GEORGE C. THOMAS.

efiix my signa- 80 

